§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the average waiting time for those awaiting a National Health Service operation for varicose veins in the Merseyside regional health area at the latest date;
(2) what is the average waiting time for those awaiting a National Health Service hysterectomy in the Merseyside regional health area at the latest date;
(3) what is the average waiting time for those awaiting a National Health Service hip joint replacement operation in the Merseyside regional health area at the latest date.
§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his replies, 19 December 1983, c. 571–72 and 20 December 1983, c. 214]: In 1981, the latest year for which information is available centrally, the estimated median waiting times for those admitted to National Health Service hospitals in the Mersey region from the waiting list for the listed operations were as follows: 152W
Operation Estimated median waiting time in weeks Varicose veins 9 Hysterectomy 7 Hip joint replacement 19